Downpour (5)
Grrrruk...
The Ent had caught on to the situation, but it was already too late. The stem was severed, and toppling over was just a matter of time.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!"
"Get back!"
Before it was fully cut through, the Ent thrashed wildly, so the stem didn't fall in the direction of Go Cheon-su's axe swing. Seeing the trunk leaning toward him, Go Cheon-su spun around and bolted.
Thud!
The trunk crashed down right where Go Cheon-su had been moments before. Tiny water droplets lingering on the ground were flung up by the explosive impact, then splattered back down.
Woooong.
The shock rippled all the way to the ladder. The group watching over Go Cheon-su from there froze, speechless.
By then, Go Cheon-su had already raised his axe again. It wasn't over yet.
"Logging complete."
"Time to split the firewood."
Go Cheon-su swung the axe at the fallen trunk. Without its stem, the roots' intelligence dropped. He'd confirmed that from Kim Ha-ryeong's notes.
So if he smashed the regenerating stems, it would all be done.
Thwack! Crack! Crunch!
Like a torrential downpour, the axe hacked down on the trunk again and again. The countdown repeated, and soon only firewood-like remnants of the Ent littered the floor.
"Hah... huff... huff."
The moment Go Cheon-su collapsed to the ground, a notification appeared.
Mission completed.
Reward granted.
Details available in chat via $.
Hacking away at the wriggling roots closing in from all sides with his axe, Go Cheon-su caught his breath.
"Hah. Bros, I'm never chopping firewood again."
Despite saying he wouldn't, he'd only stirred up more pointless expectations. Go Cheon-su slumped and looked up at the ladder.
The group was still hanging there, peering down at him.
"Phew."
Go Cheon-su raised a hand toward them. The victor's ceremony.
"This thing's really dead, right...?"
Yang Min-cheol, down from the ladder with the others, poked at the roots.
Jang Seo-yeon grimaced at the rolling roots.
"Looks like octopus legs."
"Our collection of fine specimens has grown."
Kim Ha-ryeong chimed in, and Jang Seo-yeon furrowed her brow.
"You see this and say that? He went through hell."
Chatting like that, the group approached Go Cheon-su. He was still sitting there, unmoving.
"Hyung."
"You okay?"
"Go Cheon-su-nim, that was awesome."
Go Cheon-su let out a hollow laugh at their words.
"Couldn't you have cheered me on from the ladder? Audience was quiet, made it tough fighting solo."
Of course, the viewers had been noisy, but seeing chat and hearing live cheers felt different.
"Couldn't help it, hyung."
Yang Min-cheol said seriously.
"You were no joke, didn't know what to say..."
"Yeah, you were amazing."
Impressed by his feat, Jang Seo-yeon chimed in from the side.
"You totally wrecked that monster. Smashed it like crazy. Bet we were shocked even without saying a word."
"Go Cheon-su-nim, that was awesome."
Kim Ha-ryeong even gave a thumbs-up. Sounded robotic, but whatever.
"Well, glad you think so. Thanks, everyone."
Go Cheon-su expressed his gratitude, looking at Kim Ha-ryeong.
"Especially you, Ha-ryeong. Helped a ton."
"Ah, really?"
"Yeah."
Kim Ha-ryeong beamed. Just knowing she'd contributed made her happy.
'Don't want her blaming herself for things going this far.'
They'd come here on her guidance. He hoped she wouldn't feel guilty over the unexpected crisis. That would just complicate things.
"Oh, and Ha-ryeong. Just call me Cheon-su-nim. Feels awkward."
Ignoring the viewers' cheeky jabs, Go Cheon-su stood up. Still work to do.
"Alright, everyone, handle cleanup."
Time passed. After tidying the basement, the group took a break. Short, but enough to recover.
Soon, it was time to open the manhole cover again.
Clunk.
Go Cheon-su used an Ent root to pry open the manhole cover, axe raised as he cautiously peeked out.
"Nothing there?"
No Ents in sight. Dawn sunlight sparkled on the damp ground.
"Heave-ho."
Go Cheon-su climbed out first and extended a hand down.
"Everyone, out."
The group grabbed his hand one by one and emerged. Cool post-rain air greeted them.
"Clouds are still hanging around."
Jang Seo-yeon said, looking up.
"Yeah."
With Elkcroker dead, no sudden downpour expected. Just some clouds.
"Let's move."
Go Cheon-su led the group onward. Mountains of tasks ahead.
"Over there."
Kim Ha-ryeong, leading, pointed to a street bag shop. They grabbed new bags right away. Their old ones were soaked from the water tank. Food inside was fine, but they couldn't lug wet bags.
"Bags sorted."
Seeing everyone with new bags, Go Cheon-su moved on. Next: sporting goods store nearby.
"Grab a weapon each."
Nothing special, but wooden baseball bats. Each picked one fitting their size.
Silly comment, but Go Cheon-su chuckled absently—
"...Ah, fuck!"
A human voice suddenly rang out from somewhere. Go Cheon-su signaled the group. They scattered behind display cases in perfect sync.
'What the hell.'
Go Cheon-su peeked out, gazing through the store's large glass window.
"We're fucked, for real."
A man paced outside the glass. As Go Cheon-su watched, another appeared, muttering the same.
"What? It's gone? Shit, where'd it go?"
"Exactly. Gonna get beat by the leader."
They seemed to be searching for something.
"Hey, over here!"
Someone shouted from out of sight by the window. The two bolted that way.
"...What was that?"
Jang Seo-yeon, peeking too, frowned.
"What just happened?"
No answer from Go Cheon-su.
'Not the ones from before.'
They resembled the men seen before entering the manhole. He'd glimpsed tattoos on their arms briefly.
'Same group?'
If so, headache. If numerous, high chance of clash somewhere.
"Hm."
As he turned with a groan—
"...Min-cheol?"
Yang Min-cheol was frozen, eyes wide in shock. Go Cheon-su asked,
"What's up?"
No response. Kim Ha-ryeong poked his cheek.
"Ah."
Yang Min-cheol finally startled and moved.
"Min-cheol."
Go Cheon-su frowned.
"What's wrong? Scared?"
"Huh? Uh, that is..."
Yang Min-cheol stammered. Jang Seo-yeon said,
"What, freaked out? Don't worry. They didn't spot us."
"Mm."
Go Cheon-su eyed the groaning Yang Min-cheol closely. Not scared—similar, but different unease.
"...I'll check it out."
Go Cheon-su slowly headed to the glass door. Peered by sticking close, but nothing. Cracked it open, scanned both ways. Same.
Men had vanished out of sight.
"Clear. Let's go now."
If they were hunting something, they might return. Better to leave the area.
"Uwaaaaaah!"
Bad timing—as they exited the store, someone screamed onto the street.
"What now."
A man in a dress shirt. Spotting Go Cheon-su, he reached out running.
"Help! Save m—"
But the cry cut short. A tall tattooed man appeared, smashing his head.
Clang!
Unpleasant ring, shirt guy crumpled.
"Ah, shit. This bastard's making me work."
Tall man sighed, muttering, then eyed Go Cheon-su's group.
"Huh...?"
Go Cheon-su gripped his axe tight at the surprised tall man's face.
"Hey, hey! Kids, over here!"
Two more ran up at the shout. Huge tattoos visible even under clothes.
Go Cheon-su tilted his head back slightly, muttering,
"Everyone, prep to run. We're bailing."
They could fight. But no need to clash with a group, thought Go Cheon-su.
'No point sowing grudges.'
Chasers would be annoying. As he stepped to go—noticed Yang Min-cheol off.
'Huh?'
Yang Min-cheol couldn't tear eyes from the tattooed men. As if compelled.
"Whoa, fuck!"
Tall man suddenly yelled.
"What the hell is this!"
Oddly excited, he pointed at Yang Min-cheol.
"You Yang Min-cheol?"
Unexpected. Go Cheon-su scowled.
"What."
First encounter knew Yang Min-cheol's name. Go Cheon-su turned to him.
"Know them?"
"..."
Yang Min-cheol looked flustered.
"Min-cheol, do you know them?"
"Th-that..."
Meanwhile, tall man stepped forward. Go Cheon-su raised axe quick.
"Hold up."
Whatever connection, not friendly. Go Cheon-su glared.
"Don't come closer. We're leaving peacefully."
"What?"
Tall man licked lips, scoffed incredulously.
"Whoa, leaving peacefully."
He pointed at Yang Min-cheol.
"Long time no see, and you wanna skip greetings?"
Go Cheon-su glanced at Yang Min-cheol. No joy there. Old bad blood, probably.
"Doesn't look like he wants to chat, so bye-bye?"
Tall man shook head.
"Nah, don't feel like it."
"Ah, damn."
Go Cheon-su scratched head irritably.
'Everything's going wrong.'
Just out of water tank ordeal, now this crap. Common in ruined world, though.
"Just greetings? Hey, Min-cheol. Not happy to see us?"
No answer from Yang Min-cheol. Just edged behind Go Cheon-su.
"Hah."
Go Cheon-su told tall man,
"Hey."
Details from Yang Min-cheol later. But no kindness for thugs smashing escapees' heads.
"Go quietly, bye-bye."
Warning.
"Hah."
Tall man sneered anyway.
"And if we don't?"
Then one path left.